There was an interesting little thing tucked away in "The Diario" yesterday. Interesting, not because of what it said, but because of what could be extrapolated from it. The article referred to a meeting between Francesc Antich, the regional government president, and the hotel federation. The headlining element was that Antich suggested it was easier to reach agreements with business and unions than with political parties. From that, one can infer that it is not always easy to reach compromise with coalition partners. He is not wrong. But this was not the most interesting aspect. Antich is also reported as saying that "the political situation impedes the taking of measures that allow for greater tourism competitiveness". In other words, the very nature of the system is a constraint on Mallorca's most important industry.
Now, just think about this, and take into account also the fact that the hoteliers made a number of demands to Antich, one of which was for the improvement of public transport to Alcúdia, i.e. the train, the train that was effectively vetoed by Alcúdia town hall. Think about it. Who is now the new tourism minister? The mayor of Alcúdia, Miquel Ferrer, the one who stood in the way of the train because the town hall would not go along with the government's preference for the siting of the Sa Pobla rail extension.
The political system - the coalition - acts against the best interests of the tourism industry, including those to do with transport infrastructure. This is what Antich is saying. The coalition comprises three parties, one of which, the Unió Mallorquina, is represented in the tourism ministry, as it has been throughout the Antich administration, albeit by different politicians. Do we infer from this that the UM has been obstructive in tourism development? No, this has not been the case. But now that Ferrer is in charge of tourism, will he see the train in a different light, i.e. one that takes account of a wider interest than merely a parochial Alcúdia one of self-interest, as was manifest in the protests by the finca owners of the Son Fé area of Alcúdia? It is not for Ferrer, as tourism minister, to decide anything where transport is concerned, but he must have an opinion or be asked for one. Will this now change?
When Ferrer gave his first press conference the other day, one of the things he was not asked about was the train. Had he been, he would probably have deflected it by saying that it is not an issue for the tourism ministry. But he should still have been asked. Ferrer has been mute on the subject since the decision was taken to use funds earmarked the Sa Pobla extension for different projects. He has made something of a virtue of not saying things, but now he is tourism minister, he is going to be expected to be less taciturn. Though the train is effectively dead in the water until a new administration is elected, it nevertheless remains an issue, an issue for tourism development - as the hoteliers have made clear and, by implication of what Antich said, for the president himself, whose whole period of office was meant to have been celebrated as "the age of the train".
There is no collision course as such between Antich and Ferrer on the matter, as it has been shelved, but the very fact of the matter having been raised highlights - again - the difficulties created by different levels of government and different parties and also the potential complications for a politician elevated from a local environment to one of state (assuming one can call the regional government a "state"). Moreover, Ferrer will spend much of his time in discussion with the likes of the hoteliers federation. What will he say to them about the train? That Antich has had this meeting with the federation could be interpreted as a shot across Ferrer's bows, while a more active involvement in tourism matters by Antich, something I believe he should have, might be taken as either an admission of possible inexperience on behalf of Ferrer or of undermining him and also the UM.
Alcúdia town hall went against the preference of the government's transport ministry, one headed by a member of the Mallorcan socialists (Bloc), i.e. one to the left of centre, an area also inhabited by Antich. There is no love lost between the UM and the Bloc, and the train debacle was in so small part a reflection of this. Antich is widely admired for his patience and for his attempts at diplomacy, but one could forgive him just a touch of annoyance that one of his "big things", the train, was scuppered by the very person who is now his tourism minister.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Editors, "Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zLxTGjpDew. Today's title - "you just can't get agreement" from a song with a choir by a Genesis off-shoot.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Showing posts with label Sa Pobla-Alcúdia railway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sa Pobla-Alcúdia railway. Show all posts
Friday, December 18, 2009
Monday, October 05, 2009
You Cannot Petition
You might have thought that the decision to take no decision in respect of the rail extension to Alcúdia during the remaining period of the current governmental administration would have been the end of the matter. You would of course have been wrong. One of the more glaring omissions following the no-decision decision was any word from Alcúdia's mayor, he who was so committed to not allowing the northern route. Finally, he has broken his silence and has announced the results of the petition that the town hall launched against the proposed route. There were 1300 signatures against. The mayor believes that these represent a significant expression of local views. Well, he would say that, wouldn't he. The numbers registering their opposition amount to some way short of 10% of the town's population. What of the 90% who didn't sign the petition? (And I know, I know, you have to take account of minors and all that, but you get the point.)
See any photos of the so-called mass protests against the route and it will invariably involve a tractor with a sign strung to the front bearing the legend "Per Son Fé" (and indeed there was such a photo in "The Bulletin" yesterday). It was the area of Son Fé, as one enters Alcúdia along the road from the motorway, that was most affected by the proposed route; the area of the tractor boys. Small wonder that it should create the most vocal opposition. Of those who signed, one could well imagine that the majority had some connection with Son Fé and with the immediate area in the old town where a terminus might have been sited. The rest were probably Luddite fanatics opposed to anything that smacks of a period after around the early twentieth century and political fellow-travellers, ones who are not, though, going to be travelling on a train any time soon; well not one starting from Alcúdia. What about those on the other side of Alcúdia, in the port, in Mal Pas and so on? What also of people in Puerto Pollensa, Playa de Muro and maybe also Can Picafort who might have liked a say? The rail extension was never the sole preserve of Alcúdia, much as the town hall has acted as though it were.
The extension is not a complete dead duck. Of those who placed their signatures against the northern route, 85% were happy for there to be an alternative route, i.e. the southern one favoured by the town hall. No great surprise there. All that NIMBY stuff, as ever, and stuff the fact that the southern route may genuinely not be an environmental plus and that the odd dead duck in Albufera may be the result. The petition is part of a process of objections to be presented to the regional government, despite its decision to take no decision, other than the decision to not go ahead during the current legislature. The railway could still happen, but whether central funds would still be forthcoming, given the debacle this time round, is quite a different matter.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - "Rio", Mike Nesmith, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNwj-Z6ig-M. Today's title - well of course you can, and they do. Who was this and who couldn't you petition?
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
See any photos of the so-called mass protests against the route and it will invariably involve a tractor with a sign strung to the front bearing the legend "Per Son Fé" (and indeed there was such a photo in "The Bulletin" yesterday). It was the area of Son Fé, as one enters Alcúdia along the road from the motorway, that was most affected by the proposed route; the area of the tractor boys. Small wonder that it should create the most vocal opposition. Of those who signed, one could well imagine that the majority had some connection with Son Fé and with the immediate area in the old town where a terminus might have been sited. The rest were probably Luddite fanatics opposed to anything that smacks of a period after around the early twentieth century and political fellow-travellers, ones who are not, though, going to be travelling on a train any time soon; well not one starting from Alcúdia. What about those on the other side of Alcúdia, in the port, in Mal Pas and so on? What also of people in Puerto Pollensa, Playa de Muro and maybe also Can Picafort who might have liked a say? The rail extension was never the sole preserve of Alcúdia, much as the town hall has acted as though it were.
The extension is not a complete dead duck. Of those who placed their signatures against the northern route, 85% were happy for there to be an alternative route, i.e. the southern one favoured by the town hall. No great surprise there. All that NIMBY stuff, as ever, and stuff the fact that the southern route may genuinely not be an environmental plus and that the odd dead duck in Albufera may be the result. The petition is part of a process of objections to be presented to the regional government, despite its decision to take no decision, other than the decision to not go ahead during the current legislature. The railway could still happen, but whether central funds would still be forthcoming, given the debacle this time round, is quite a different matter.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - "Rio", Mike Nesmith, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNwj-Z6ig-M. Today's title - well of course you can, and they do. Who was this and who couldn't you petition?
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Town That Didn't Want The Train - A Fairy Tale
The transport fairy gives and the transport fairy takes away. On the day that they came to officially open the as yet unfinished new terminal at Alcúdia's port, some other they were in the process of killing off the Alcúdia train - for the time being at any rate. At the cost of some twenty odd million euros the new port will be totally shiny and new later this year when the walkways have been finished. But they made sure to get it officially opened just in case and before the transport fairy could wave her wand and make it all disappear, which is what the malevolent and spoilt little brat was up to in the islands' parliament yesterday. "You shan't go to the Alcúdia station," said she. Or something like that. And I know, I know that was the fairy godmother, but she was still a fairy.
The money spent on the port was a drop in the bay of Alcúdia compared to the close on 100 million euros that was earmarked to churn up local finca land and run a ruddy great rail track through the auditorium. It would have been money well spent, but Alcúdia town hall played hardball - and lost in all respects. One member of the parliament said that the administration will pass into history as having been from the town that didn't want the train.
The report on the parliament proceedings was such that I confess to having lost the will to live when trying to make sense of what the various political parties wanted or didn't want in respect of Alcúdia, Manacor and any other tram or train. A plague on their various houses. The upshot is that the Alcúdia train, if indeed it ever is to see the light of a tunnel, will not be doing so as a result of the workings of the current legislature. So much for President Antich's "age of the train".
The transport fairy has been busy these past few days. She sprinkled some magic dust in Barcarès where there had been the little local difficulty regarding the development of the marina that no-one seemed to know about. Surprising to report, therefore, that over 2,500 signatures appeared on a petition against the development, which is over 2,500 more people than knew about the development when I went there (except the bloke in the office) and roughly 2,500 more than live in the larger Barcarès area (I do exaggerate here of course). But it was all something and nothing, as indeed I had discovered. The environment minister has said that there are no immediate plans to do anything and indeed nothing might well happen as the chaps from the ports authority have to weigh up priorities for the island as a whole.
The transport fairy looked down on the little port in Barcarès and smirked. "Why would you give priority to this?" And with a whoosh of the wand it was gone. Far, far away to the place with the magic finca land with no train.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Cliff Richard, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFakry_wgZE.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
The money spent on the port was a drop in the bay of Alcúdia compared to the close on 100 million euros that was earmarked to churn up local finca land and run a ruddy great rail track through the auditorium. It would have been money well spent, but Alcúdia town hall played hardball - and lost in all respects. One member of the parliament said that the administration will pass into history as having been from the town that didn't want the train.
The report on the parliament proceedings was such that I confess to having lost the will to live when trying to make sense of what the various political parties wanted or didn't want in respect of Alcúdia, Manacor and any other tram or train. A plague on their various houses. The upshot is that the Alcúdia train, if indeed it ever is to see the light of a tunnel, will not be doing so as a result of the workings of the current legislature. So much for President Antich's "age of the train".
The transport fairy has been busy these past few days. She sprinkled some magic dust in Barcarès where there had been the little local difficulty regarding the development of the marina that no-one seemed to know about. Surprising to report, therefore, that over 2,500 signatures appeared on a petition against the development, which is over 2,500 more people than knew about the development when I went there (except the bloke in the office) and roughly 2,500 more than live in the larger Barcarès area (I do exaggerate here of course). But it was all something and nothing, as indeed I had discovered. The environment minister has said that there are no immediate plans to do anything and indeed nothing might well happen as the chaps from the ports authority have to weigh up priorities for the island as a whole.
The transport fairy looked down on the little port in Barcarès and smirked. "Why would you give priority to this?" And with a whoosh of the wand it was gone. Far, far away to the place with the magic finca land with no train.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Cliff Richard, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFakry_wgZE.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Go Now
So, returning to yesterday and the breaking news that occupied the top of yesterday's entry.
The regional government's threat to go elsewhere with their train money seems not to have been an idle one, even if the location of that elsewhere has probably taken a lot of people by surprise, including - one hopes - the mayor of Alcúdia. The central funds earmarked for the rail extension to Alcúdia now may well end up finding a solution to a bit of local difficulty in Manacor where there has been all manner of opposition to the redeveloped route to Artà. That the regional government would appear to have lost patience with Alcúdia town hall is perhaps understandable, but the diversion of funding to Manacor means the worst of all worlds. There remains just the germ of a thought that such a diversion may be a ruse to flush out Alcúdia town hall which will now face its own backlash if the train does not arrive there - ever. Nevertheless, the central ministry in Madrid that ultimately oversees such projects appears to have accepted the changed use of the funding.
The Manacor-Artà redevelopment (there used once to be a line between the two towns) has, unlike the Alcúdia train, been dogged by significant popular opposition. Many people argue that it is unnecessary. If one takes the tourism angle (which has been a plank of the Alcúdia town hall argument in favour of the southern route), this does not apply in the Manacor case. Apart from anything else, Artà has hardly any tourism industry worthy of the name. It is nowhere town, where no-one goes. Only if the line were to be extended on further, to Cala Ratjada (which is the intention), might the tourism factor become consequential, but even then to nothing like the degree that a train to Alcúdia might. When the mayor of Manacor referred to the "outcry" in Alcúdia, he was being disingenuous in two ways: there has not been the sort of popular outcry in Alcúdia that he suggests, yet there has been in his own municipality as well as elsewhere.
The case of the rail lines is a farce. It is a farce for different reasons. The regional government can be seen as being petty by not seeking a rapprochement with Alcúdia; the transport ministry can be seen as having wished to foist a route on Alcúdia that it did not want; Alcúdia town hall has been petty by not being willing to back down; the use of funds for the Manacor line will be for something which does not have popular support; the Manacor line will not serve tourism; the Alcúdia line would serve not only tourism but also residents of the town, Puerto Pollensa and the playa region of Muro; the Alcúdia line would be more widely beneficial in terms of the island economy; the political fighting will have bitten Alcúdia's mayor who stands above all other parties as being responsible for the loss of the rail line. All assuming that the diversion of funds does indeed get ratified. If it is, then Mayor Ferrer should either resign or be booted out. Whatever spin the town hall will try to put on the loss of the rail line, it will have been the obstructive nature of the town hall's opposition to the government's preferred route that will have been the cause of this loss, to the detriment of Alcúdia, its immediate neighbours and the island as a whole. Though it can be argued that the transport ministry sought a fait accompli when it announced the northern route, the alternative southern route - that which the town hall wants, especially were it to end up at the Es Foguera ruin - has no great advantage, if any, over the northern route. But this will serve also to expose the absurdity at the heart of this farce - that a town hall can effectively block an important infrastructure development. The fault in all this lies at one level with political pettiness but at another with the political system, to say nothing of possible self-interests that may or may not have played a part in Alcúdia's obstructionism.
It could be that the Alcúdia line is not doomed, if this is a ploy by the government. But for Ferrer to now back down would mean an enormous loss of face. He has a choice - loss of face or loss of support from people in Alcúdia who were in favour of the train, wherever it might have been sited. There is only one choice for him - he should go.
QUIZ
Today's title - before they became orchestral rockers.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
The regional government's threat to go elsewhere with their train money seems not to have been an idle one, even if the location of that elsewhere has probably taken a lot of people by surprise, including - one hopes - the mayor of Alcúdia. The central funds earmarked for the rail extension to Alcúdia now may well end up finding a solution to a bit of local difficulty in Manacor where there has been all manner of opposition to the redeveloped route to Artà. That the regional government would appear to have lost patience with Alcúdia town hall is perhaps understandable, but the diversion of funding to Manacor means the worst of all worlds. There remains just the germ of a thought that such a diversion may be a ruse to flush out Alcúdia town hall which will now face its own backlash if the train does not arrive there - ever. Nevertheless, the central ministry in Madrid that ultimately oversees such projects appears to have accepted the changed use of the funding.
The Manacor-Artà redevelopment (there used once to be a line between the two towns) has, unlike the Alcúdia train, been dogged by significant popular opposition. Many people argue that it is unnecessary. If one takes the tourism angle (which has been a plank of the Alcúdia town hall argument in favour of the southern route), this does not apply in the Manacor case. Apart from anything else, Artà has hardly any tourism industry worthy of the name. It is nowhere town, where no-one goes. Only if the line were to be extended on further, to Cala Ratjada (which is the intention), might the tourism factor become consequential, but even then to nothing like the degree that a train to Alcúdia might. When the mayor of Manacor referred to the "outcry" in Alcúdia, he was being disingenuous in two ways: there has not been the sort of popular outcry in Alcúdia that he suggests, yet there has been in his own municipality as well as elsewhere.
The case of the rail lines is a farce. It is a farce for different reasons. The regional government can be seen as being petty by not seeking a rapprochement with Alcúdia; the transport ministry can be seen as having wished to foist a route on Alcúdia that it did not want; Alcúdia town hall has been petty by not being willing to back down; the use of funds for the Manacor line will be for something which does not have popular support; the Manacor line will not serve tourism; the Alcúdia line would serve not only tourism but also residents of the town, Puerto Pollensa and the playa region of Muro; the Alcúdia line would be more widely beneficial in terms of the island economy; the political fighting will have bitten Alcúdia's mayor who stands above all other parties as being responsible for the loss of the rail line. All assuming that the diversion of funds does indeed get ratified. If it is, then Mayor Ferrer should either resign or be booted out. Whatever spin the town hall will try to put on the loss of the rail line, it will have been the obstructive nature of the town hall's opposition to the government's preferred route that will have been the cause of this loss, to the detriment of Alcúdia, its immediate neighbours and the island as a whole. Though it can be argued that the transport ministry sought a fait accompli when it announced the northern route, the alternative southern route - that which the town hall wants, especially were it to end up at the Es Foguera ruin - has no great advantage, if any, over the northern route. But this will serve also to expose the absurdity at the heart of this farce - that a town hall can effectively block an important infrastructure development. The fault in all this lies at one level with political pettiness but at another with the political system, to say nothing of possible self-interests that may or may not have played a part in Alcúdia's obstructionism.
It could be that the Alcúdia line is not doomed, if this is a ploy by the government. But for Ferrer to now back down would mean an enormous loss of face. He has a choice - loss of face or loss of support from people in Alcúdia who were in favour of the train, wherever it might have been sited. There is only one choice for him - he should go.
QUIZ
Today's title - before they became orchestral rockers.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Head Bangers
The piece below has been rather overtaken by events - the government is set to divert the funds set aside for the extension to Alcúdia to other rail work on the island and in particular work on the "boulevard" which is part of a solution to issues surrounding the Manacor railway. Or is this just a cunning ploy by the government? More on all this to come, no doubt.
No, not something about Status Quo and their geriatric rocking all over the Darby and Joan Club in Palma the other day, but ever more on the Sa Pobla-Alcúdia train, an ever more which just goes to show how what you read and where you read it can give a less than complete picture of the situation. In "The Bulletin" we learn, thanks to the mayor of Manacor, that there has been "wholesale opposition" to the proposed northern corridor for the rail extension into Alcúdia and that the regional government has "heeded the outcry from Alcúdia" whilst not heeding one in Manacor regarding the rail extension from there to Artà, work on which is due to start shortly.
This is not quite accurate. There has of course been opposition to the northern route, but it is not as great as is being made out. Recently Alcúdia town hall, which has invited "allegations" against the proposed route and which has also extended hours of opening in order to present information, received - on the first day of these extended hours - fifteen people who asked for information. Moreover, the town hall received only a few "allegations". Asking for information does not mean wholesale opposition; it means asking for information. A few allegations do not represent wholesale opposition.
It is not accurate to suggest that the government has "heeded the outcry from Alcúdia". What it, or more specifically the transport ministry, has done is to suggest that if there cannot be agreement to the northern route, it (the ministry) would consider siting the rail extension elsewhere. Heeding the outcry actually means getting hacked off with the apparent intransigence at the town hall. The outcry itself is more one of political statements from the town hall; it is not a great public demonstration against the northern route. Yes, there have been protests, such as signs against the extension some months ago, but the Manacor mayor is overstating the situation. And those protests were essentially NIMBY in nature as they related to finca land that would be needed for a line into the centre of Alcúdia town.
In contrast to the report in "The Bulletin", which deals only with what the Manacor mayor has to say, one from "The Diario" presents a rather different picture. And it is this. The president of the government, Francesc Antich, has met with the leader of the Unió Mallorquina party, Miquel Flaquer, in order to try and gain some sort of consensus to present before the regional parliament. It should be noted that the Alcúdia town hall mayor, Miquel Ferrer, is from the same party as Flaquer. On Tuesday next week, responding to a demand from the Partido Popular, which is in opposition at the regional government, there needs to be some sort of definitive statement from the parliament about the Alcúdia railway. What one concludes, from what "The Diario" is saying, is that the whole issue has now gone over the heads of the main protagonists in the saga - the transport minister and the mayor of Alcúdia. Going over their heads and banging their heads together. And not before time.
The words of Manacor's mayor, himself from the Partido Popular, are essentially political posturing, certainly where Alcúdia is concerned, as the extension there has nothing whatsoever to do with him. But they sum up what this story is all about: political point-scoring. The real issues of environment, convenience, boost to local economy, population density and all the rest have been put to one side while the politicians from differing parties adopt their stances. 'Twas ever thus, you might say, and you would be right, but the fact that Antich has seen it necessary to get involved - overdue some might argue - is indicative of the inconclusiveness of the local political system and of political fighting. It should be remembered that Antich came into power with his "age of the train" declaration. Railways were his "big thing". He should have been more intimately involved long ago.
Personally I don't give a damn where the train goes, so long as it goes to Alcúdia which is the only sensible option in the north. Hopefully Antich can now, through the boss of the Unió Mallorquina, get Alcúdia town hall to accept the northern route, as quite clearly the transport ministry is not prepared to budge except to go to a different and less satisfactory municipality.
Places that are closing
Chances are that this might become a regular slot on the blog in the coming weeks. One place that is going is Mulligan's in Puerto Pollensa. Unfortunately, we can probably anticipate that there will be a number of others.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Ian Dury And The Blockheads, and here is the Hairy Cornflake introducing a "newcomer" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5snIxUBVjw.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
No, not something about Status Quo and their geriatric rocking all over the Darby and Joan Club in Palma the other day, but ever more on the Sa Pobla-Alcúdia train, an ever more which just goes to show how what you read and where you read it can give a less than complete picture of the situation. In "The Bulletin" we learn, thanks to the mayor of Manacor, that there has been "wholesale opposition" to the proposed northern corridor for the rail extension into Alcúdia and that the regional government has "heeded the outcry from Alcúdia" whilst not heeding one in Manacor regarding the rail extension from there to Artà, work on which is due to start shortly.
This is not quite accurate. There has of course been opposition to the northern route, but it is not as great as is being made out. Recently Alcúdia town hall, which has invited "allegations" against the proposed route and which has also extended hours of opening in order to present information, received - on the first day of these extended hours - fifteen people who asked for information. Moreover, the town hall received only a few "allegations". Asking for information does not mean wholesale opposition; it means asking for information. A few allegations do not represent wholesale opposition.
It is not accurate to suggest that the government has "heeded the outcry from Alcúdia". What it, or more specifically the transport ministry, has done is to suggest that if there cannot be agreement to the northern route, it (the ministry) would consider siting the rail extension elsewhere. Heeding the outcry actually means getting hacked off with the apparent intransigence at the town hall. The outcry itself is more one of political statements from the town hall; it is not a great public demonstration against the northern route. Yes, there have been protests, such as signs against the extension some months ago, but the Manacor mayor is overstating the situation. And those protests were essentially NIMBY in nature as they related to finca land that would be needed for a line into the centre of Alcúdia town.
In contrast to the report in "The Bulletin", which deals only with what the Manacor mayor has to say, one from "The Diario" presents a rather different picture. And it is this. The president of the government, Francesc Antich, has met with the leader of the Unió Mallorquina party, Miquel Flaquer, in order to try and gain some sort of consensus to present before the regional parliament. It should be noted that the Alcúdia town hall mayor, Miquel Ferrer, is from the same party as Flaquer. On Tuesday next week, responding to a demand from the Partido Popular, which is in opposition at the regional government, there needs to be some sort of definitive statement from the parliament about the Alcúdia railway. What one concludes, from what "The Diario" is saying, is that the whole issue has now gone over the heads of the main protagonists in the saga - the transport minister and the mayor of Alcúdia. Going over their heads and banging their heads together. And not before time.
The words of Manacor's mayor, himself from the Partido Popular, are essentially political posturing, certainly where Alcúdia is concerned, as the extension there has nothing whatsoever to do with him. But they sum up what this story is all about: political point-scoring. The real issues of environment, convenience, boost to local economy, population density and all the rest have been put to one side while the politicians from differing parties adopt their stances. 'Twas ever thus, you might say, and you would be right, but the fact that Antich has seen it necessary to get involved - overdue some might argue - is indicative of the inconclusiveness of the local political system and of political fighting. It should be remembered that Antich came into power with his "age of the train" declaration. Railways were his "big thing". He should have been more intimately involved long ago.
Personally I don't give a damn where the train goes, so long as it goes to Alcúdia which is the only sensible option in the north. Hopefully Antich can now, through the boss of the Unió Mallorquina, get Alcúdia town hall to accept the northern route, as quite clearly the transport ministry is not prepared to budge except to go to a different and less satisfactory municipality.
Places that are closing
Chances are that this might become a regular slot on the blog in the coming weeks. One place that is going is Mulligan's in Puerto Pollensa. Unfortunately, we can probably anticipate that there will be a number of others.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Ian Dury And The Blockheads, and here is the Hairy Cornflake introducing a "newcomer" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5snIxUBVjw.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Somewhere Else
There are certain stories that, amidst an outpouring of outrage, blaze brightly for a while - like the price of a coffee. And then there are those that just refuse to go away because there is a refusal to reach any sort of closure or agreement - like the bloody rail extension to Alcúdia. It may now not be an extension to Alcúdia, if the regional government's transport minister can be believed.
The impasse between the ministry and Alcúdia town hall as to the siting of the railway line and terminus threatens the Madrid funding that is in place. The minister is not about to see that taken back. It may sound a bit childish, but he has said that if there cannot be an agreement, the railway will go somewhere else. Up to a point, you can understand this stance. The town hall simply refuses to budge on its preference for the so-called southern route. This despite the fact, and irrespective of which route were to be adopted, that the train would benefit Alcúdia and would not require the town hall to put its hands into its pockets. In a way this all highlights the strengths and weaknesses of a political system that involves different tiers of government - Madrid, the regional government and the local government. The latter cannot be ridden roughshod over by a train it does not wish to be sited in a particular place - a strength - but the latter two together cannot see eye to eye - a weakness, and one not completely without political machinations. The town hall mayor makes references to the Bloc in the regional government, which effectively controls the transport ministry, and it is opposed by the Unió Mallorquina-dominated town hall.
Should one take the minister's threat seriously? Consider the alternatives. The railway could, in theory, go to Pollensa, Playa de Muro or Can Picafort. In theory. But in practice? One of the key arguments in favour of the northern route within Alcúdia, that which the minister wants, is that it would serve the highest density of immediate population. Alcúdia has a greater population than any of the neighbouring municipalities in any event. Pollensa is close behind, but unlike Alcúdia it is split up - there are several kilometres between the town and the port, which is not the case in Alcúdia. The population-density argument would not hold.
Then there would be the not insignificant matters of feasibility studies, environmental knickers twisted, public debates, political wranglings that would occur were a different location to be chosen or recommended. There is also the fact that the planned route to Alcúdia is years old. It was first thought of back in the 1930s. This is only a guess, but it could well be that there exists a legal basis for the Alcúdia route that goes back all those years. You may recall that the bypass in Puerto Pollensa was something agreed to in the 1960s and backed by a central government plan from the time. It is quite possible that the Alcúdia train is similarly covered. Were this to be the case, then it might require Madrid to legislate on any other route, which would almost certainly not be a good idea if Madrid is getting twitchy about its 400 million euros of funding. As an adjunct to this, another rail extension, that from Manacor to Artà, is due to see work starting this winter. This despite much opposition. But in this particular case, there used to be a railway line to Artá. The new one is essentially a reactivation of an old land plan.
But let us assume they said no to Alcúdia and yes to somewhere else. Put a terminus in Playa de Muro and you would have the same arguments as Alcúdia. Greater ones probably as the most direct route would go along the side of Albufera. Put a terminus in Can Picafort and then why bother running the line from Sa Pobla. There is already a station in Muro town (part of the line from Inca to Sa Pobla), which would be closer. In either instance, however, one comes back to the population-density issue. How many people live all year in Playa de Muro or Can Picafort? Far, far fewer than in Alcúdia. Put a terminus in Pollensa or even Puerto Pollensa and the route may seem straightforward - alongside the road past Crestatx and the golf course. Yep, and see what sort of opposition that causes. And then there is that idea of a tram line, either one between Alcúdia and Can Picafort or one between Puerto Pollensa and Alcúdia, or both maybe, connecting with the train station. These seem to have been completely forgotten in all this debate, assuming there was ever any serious plan for them.
Unless the ministry decides on some completely different train project, away from the north, the only really sensible option is Alcúdia, which is probably why it has been mooted for over 70 years. Alcúdia town hall really needs to swallow its pride, hurt by what was seen as a fait accompli when the northern route was announced by the ministry, and accept the plan. Or else the railway may never be built. The only problem then would be that it, the town hall, would need to be involved in the process of project management and expropriation - against its wishes. Without a change in political hue in Alcúdia, that would be difficult, and is very unlikely to happen. More likely would be a political change at the ministry. And when the mayor talks about hoping for a future change of heart at regional government level, this may well be what he has in mind. Always assuming Madrid doesn't pull the funding in the meantime. Otherwise it will be another 70 years.
Stormy weather
And apropos yesterday. There was in fact a storm, it did not hit Alcúdia but Pollensa. Back to sun.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Carole King, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMjoF4xtMko.
Today's title - a hit from a Brit indie bunch.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
The impasse between the ministry and Alcúdia town hall as to the siting of the railway line and terminus threatens the Madrid funding that is in place. The minister is not about to see that taken back. It may sound a bit childish, but he has said that if there cannot be an agreement, the railway will go somewhere else. Up to a point, you can understand this stance. The town hall simply refuses to budge on its preference for the so-called southern route. This despite the fact, and irrespective of which route were to be adopted, that the train would benefit Alcúdia and would not require the town hall to put its hands into its pockets. In a way this all highlights the strengths and weaknesses of a political system that involves different tiers of government - Madrid, the regional government and the local government. The latter cannot be ridden roughshod over by a train it does not wish to be sited in a particular place - a strength - but the latter two together cannot see eye to eye - a weakness, and one not completely without political machinations. The town hall mayor makes references to the Bloc in the regional government, which effectively controls the transport ministry, and it is opposed by the Unió Mallorquina-dominated town hall.
Should one take the minister's threat seriously? Consider the alternatives. The railway could, in theory, go to Pollensa, Playa de Muro or Can Picafort. In theory. But in practice? One of the key arguments in favour of the northern route within Alcúdia, that which the minister wants, is that it would serve the highest density of immediate population. Alcúdia has a greater population than any of the neighbouring municipalities in any event. Pollensa is close behind, but unlike Alcúdia it is split up - there are several kilometres between the town and the port, which is not the case in Alcúdia. The population-density argument would not hold.
Then there would be the not insignificant matters of feasibility studies, environmental knickers twisted, public debates, political wranglings that would occur were a different location to be chosen or recommended. There is also the fact that the planned route to Alcúdia is years old. It was first thought of back in the 1930s. This is only a guess, but it could well be that there exists a legal basis for the Alcúdia route that goes back all those years. You may recall that the bypass in Puerto Pollensa was something agreed to in the 1960s and backed by a central government plan from the time. It is quite possible that the Alcúdia train is similarly covered. Were this to be the case, then it might require Madrid to legislate on any other route, which would almost certainly not be a good idea if Madrid is getting twitchy about its 400 million euros of funding. As an adjunct to this, another rail extension, that from Manacor to Artà, is due to see work starting this winter. This despite much opposition. But in this particular case, there used to be a railway line to Artá. The new one is essentially a reactivation of an old land plan.
But let us assume they said no to Alcúdia and yes to somewhere else. Put a terminus in Playa de Muro and you would have the same arguments as Alcúdia. Greater ones probably as the most direct route would go along the side of Albufera. Put a terminus in Can Picafort and then why bother running the line from Sa Pobla. There is already a station in Muro town (part of the line from Inca to Sa Pobla), which would be closer. In either instance, however, one comes back to the population-density issue. How many people live all year in Playa de Muro or Can Picafort? Far, far fewer than in Alcúdia. Put a terminus in Pollensa or even Puerto Pollensa and the route may seem straightforward - alongside the road past Crestatx and the golf course. Yep, and see what sort of opposition that causes. And then there is that idea of a tram line, either one between Alcúdia and Can Picafort or one between Puerto Pollensa and Alcúdia, or both maybe, connecting with the train station. These seem to have been completely forgotten in all this debate, assuming there was ever any serious plan for them.
Unless the ministry decides on some completely different train project, away from the north, the only really sensible option is Alcúdia, which is probably why it has been mooted for over 70 years. Alcúdia town hall really needs to swallow its pride, hurt by what was seen as a fait accompli when the northern route was announced by the ministry, and accept the plan. Or else the railway may never be built. The only problem then would be that it, the town hall, would need to be involved in the process of project management and expropriation - against its wishes. Without a change in political hue in Alcúdia, that would be difficult, and is very unlikely to happen. More likely would be a political change at the ministry. And when the mayor talks about hoping for a future change of heart at regional government level, this may well be what he has in mind. Always assuming Madrid doesn't pull the funding in the meantime. Otherwise it will be another 70 years.
Stormy weather
And apropos yesterday. There was in fact a storm, it did not hit Alcúdia but Pollensa. Back to sun.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Carole King, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMjoF4xtMko.
Today's title - a hit from a Brit indie bunch.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Saturday, April 25, 2009
She Read Me Like A Book
The victim of the attack that led to the demonstration against violence in Puerto Alcúdia has died. He had been in a coma since the incident nearly three weeks ago that occurred by the Magic roundabout. There's not a lot more to be said. Or rather, there is a load that could be said, and this will doubtless revolve around uncontrolled drinking and violent and disaffected youth. It all sounds vaguely familiar. This can happen anywhere, and has happened here.
The Alcúdia train debate, some might say debacle, goes on. The "mobility" department of the Balearics Government (mobility equates to transport in this sense) has come out in favour of the so-called northern route alongside the main road from Sa Pobla and terminating, in all likelihood, close to the centre of the old town. This is opposed by, among others, Alcúdia town hall, landowners - the ones who staged the recent tractor protest - the highways department at the Mallorca Council and some elements of the environment ministry which say that it will affect certain species. The environmental lobby is generally in favour. A greater number of species, it is said, would be potentially harmed were the southern route - with a terminal by Albufera - adopted. The other option, of siting the line so that it finishes up near the Magic roundabout is one now currying favour within Alcúdia town hall. Yet, this one might be a non-starter owing to the wetlands that exist in the area. Confused? It is.
That was a couple of days ago, and then the environment ministry, which seemed to be in general agreement with the mobility people (save for those voices which were not) came out with a statement that the mobility department was not taking account of the views of the town hall, a point - naturally enough - echoed by the town's mayor. The head of the environment ministry and the mayor are from the UM; the head of the mobility ministry isn't.
The other day was one of those days - a day of. It was the day of the book. The origins of this day are Catalonian. And the original day marked the birth of Miguel de Cervantes. The day was changed to 23 April in 1930 and has since been internationalised. There is a strong book tradition that comes out of Catalonia. Anyone who has ever been to the book market in Barcelona will know this. The day was duly celebrated in, among other places, Alcúdia.
Periodically, the local press reports on the level of book reading in the Balearics. This is not a mere study of how people use their leisure time; it is a cultural issue. And the worry is that reading is in decline. Maybe this is so everywhere. Yet, reassuringly, despite new technologies, the book still holds an important role in our lives, be we Catalan or other nationality. Never let J. K. Rowling be criticised. She has been one of the more significant educative influences in contemporary society; educating the young to want to read.
Though the book day is essentially a Catalan thing, there was an advert for the day in the "Ultima Hora" newspaper, which is published mainly but not exclusively in Castilian; there are also contributions in Catalan. The advert was from the department store El Corte Inglés. It announced book signings. All the authors and titles listed were Catalan, but otherwise the advert was in Castilian. How strange.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - "Boys From The Black Stuff". Bernard Hill (Yosser). (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmu3Rn6Vp_s). By the way, don't be fooled by the strange intro from Top Of The Pops. Today's title - a line from? Mandy.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
The Alcúdia train debate, some might say debacle, goes on. The "mobility" department of the Balearics Government (mobility equates to transport in this sense) has come out in favour of the so-called northern route alongside the main road from Sa Pobla and terminating, in all likelihood, close to the centre of the old town. This is opposed by, among others, Alcúdia town hall, landowners - the ones who staged the recent tractor protest - the highways department at the Mallorca Council and some elements of the environment ministry which say that it will affect certain species. The environmental lobby is generally in favour. A greater number of species, it is said, would be potentially harmed were the southern route - with a terminal by Albufera - adopted. The other option, of siting the line so that it finishes up near the Magic roundabout is one now currying favour within Alcúdia town hall. Yet, this one might be a non-starter owing to the wetlands that exist in the area. Confused? It is.
That was a couple of days ago, and then the environment ministry, which seemed to be in general agreement with the mobility people (save for those voices which were not) came out with a statement that the mobility department was not taking account of the views of the town hall, a point - naturally enough - echoed by the town's mayor. The head of the environment ministry and the mayor are from the UM; the head of the mobility ministry isn't.
The other day was one of those days - a day of. It was the day of the book. The origins of this day are Catalonian. And the original day marked the birth of Miguel de Cervantes. The day was changed to 23 April in 1930 and has since been internationalised. There is a strong book tradition that comes out of Catalonia. Anyone who has ever been to the book market in Barcelona will know this. The day was duly celebrated in, among other places, Alcúdia.
Periodically, the local press reports on the level of book reading in the Balearics. This is not a mere study of how people use their leisure time; it is a cultural issue. And the worry is that reading is in decline. Maybe this is so everywhere. Yet, reassuringly, despite new technologies, the book still holds an important role in our lives, be we Catalan or other nationality. Never let J. K. Rowling be criticised. She has been one of the more significant educative influences in contemporary society; educating the young to want to read.
Though the book day is essentially a Catalan thing, there was an advert for the day in the "Ultima Hora" newspaper, which is published mainly but not exclusively in Castilian; there are also contributions in Catalan. The advert was from the department store El Corte Inglés. It announced book signings. All the authors and titles listed were Catalan, but otherwise the advert was in Castilian. How strange.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - "Boys From The Black Stuff". Bernard Hill (Yosser). (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmu3Rn6Vp_s). By the way, don't be fooled by the strange intro from Top Of The Pops. Today's title - a line from? Mandy.
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The Tractor Boys
The tractor boys were on the march yesterday. No, make that on a roll, crawling along the main Palma road from the Can Segue bar into Alcúdia for a spot of protesting - this time against the proposed siting of the train route. Ho hum, another day, another voice raised in opposition to something. Unlike public displays of unease at societal malaises, such as violence, those for or normally against developments get a tad wearisome. But then, there would have been a time when such gatherings would have been cracked down on, so maybe one shouldn't complain. The question is, though, will this damn train extension ever get built. And where?
The tractor protesters are not against the train as such; just that they want it sited to the south and not along the so-called northern corridor, which is the government's favoured option. However, there is an unmistakable tendency to want to put a halt to much that is new. It stands alongside that other tendency - Mallorca for the Mallorcans, and we can do without tourists, thanks very much. It was put to me the other day that, among some elements of the teens, twentysomethings and indeed oldersomethings, there is a discernible mass of opinion that there can be some sort of back to the future with everyone speaking Catalan and nary a tourist to be seen. It is hardly a unique phenomenon, be it in Mallorca or many other places. It may be purely idealistic and not pragmatic, but idealism rarely wins the argument. The cynical view is that this generation, comfortable as a consequence of the moolah that its parents and grandparents have derived from tourism, can call for some advancement of local nationalism and a return to the fields without having any sense of the practicalities or wisdom of doing so. Does this generation know how to sow potatoes? No, but it can find out, it replies, and then it discovers that the weather turns nasty and prevents crops from being sown, which is what happened during the soggy winter. Subsistence can become a struggle.
There is and always will be tensions between the needs of commerce, for which read tourism, and the desire for local expression and a prioritisation of localism over internationalism. One could, I suppose, perceive the Catalan debate and the global economic crisis as being a part of the philosophy that underpins such a desire. It is not wrong, but its consequences might, probably would, be far from what the idealistic tendency would wish for itself.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Rolling Stones (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_O_wRuxu14). Today's title - which football team is known by this name?
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
The tractor protesters are not against the train as such; just that they want it sited to the south and not along the so-called northern corridor, which is the government's favoured option. However, there is an unmistakable tendency to want to put a halt to much that is new. It stands alongside that other tendency - Mallorca for the Mallorcans, and we can do without tourists, thanks very much. It was put to me the other day that, among some elements of the teens, twentysomethings and indeed oldersomethings, there is a discernible mass of opinion that there can be some sort of back to the future with everyone speaking Catalan and nary a tourist to be seen. It is hardly a unique phenomenon, be it in Mallorca or many other places. It may be purely idealistic and not pragmatic, but idealism rarely wins the argument. The cynical view is that this generation, comfortable as a consequence of the moolah that its parents and grandparents have derived from tourism, can call for some advancement of local nationalism and a return to the fields without having any sense of the practicalities or wisdom of doing so. Does this generation know how to sow potatoes? No, but it can find out, it replies, and then it discovers that the weather turns nasty and prevents crops from being sown, which is what happened during the soggy winter. Subsistence can become a struggle.
There is and always will be tensions between the needs of commerce, for which read tourism, and the desire for local expression and a prioritisation of localism over internationalism. One could, I suppose, perceive the Catalan debate and the global economic crisis as being a part of the philosophy that underpins such a desire. It is not wrong, but its consequences might, probably would, be far from what the idealistic tendency would wish for itself.
QUIZ
Yesterday's title - Rolling Stones (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_O_wRuxu14). Today's title - which football team is known by this name?
(PLEASE REPLY TO andrew@thealcudiaguide.com AND NOT VIA THE COMMENTS THINGY HERE.)
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